WE’VE ALL heard of crocodile tears – but here a weeping turtle has his taken away by a host of colourful butterflies.
It may look kind, but it’s the salt in the tears they are after.
It is thought it encourges them to breed.
The butterflies frequently flutter around the yellow spotted river turtles in the Peruvian Amazon.
Jeff Cremer, 34, who runs wildlife photography tours at Tambopata, said: “Being so far from the Atlantic, this side of the Amazon lacks the availability of salt.
“So odd behaviours pop up – including drinking the tears of turtles basking in the sun.
“If one butterfly is feeding, its bright colours invite other butterflies as well.
“Bees also feed on turtle eyes, which seems to really bother the turtles, but they don’t appear to mind the butterflies as much.
“Butterflies in this area will do anything for salt, including drinking from your sweaty skin or backpack.”
WE’VE ALL heard of crocodile tears – but here a weeping turtle has his taken away by a host of colourful butterflies.
It may look kind, but it’s the salt in the tears they are after.
It is thought it encourges them to breed.
The butterflies frequently flutter around the yellow spotted river turtles in the Peruvian Amazon.
Jeff Cremer, 34, who runs wildlife photography tours at Tambopata, said: “Being so far from the Atlantic, this side of the Amazon lacks the availability of salt.
“So odd behaviours pop up – including drinking the tears of turtles basking in the sun.
“If one butterfly is feeding, its bright colours invite other butterflies as well.
“Bees also feed on turtle eyes, which seems to really bother the turtles, but they don’t appear to mind the butterflies as much.
“Butterflies in this area will do anything for salt, including drinking from your sweaty skin or backpack.”